Word of mouth is important at that age but someone needs to try the game first and get the ball rolling.

Gamers who come of age and start having children of their own or have friends/family who do, can use sites such as this one to make purchase decisions for the young ones.

The gaming demographic is no longer a bunch of teenagers boys playing games in their mother’s basement and the gaming press has failed to move with the times.

I think one of the problems that the press face (at least the online press) is that not many teenage girls would necessarily go online and read reviews of games, interact on forums or leave comments after a review.

I could be completely wrong, and naive, but this group of gamers are probably more interested in what their actual friends are playing and word by mouth is their main source of receiving information on gaming recommendations.

Maybe the press need to find a way to “tap” this market and inform the casual gamer better.

One site that is very good in doing so is http://www.whattheyplay.com (a parents guide to gaming). They have covered five of the Imagine game series so far.